Forget that Akufo-Addo, Bawumia or the NPP can stop galamsey - Afaglo

A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Chief Executive Officer of Marrer Ghana Limited, Susatgad Boat Building and Fishing Industry, Novihoho Afaglo, has stated that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia government have lost the moral grounds to fight galamsey in the country.

Afaglo alleged that Nana Akufo-Addo, his Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who doubles as the New Patriotic Party presidential candidate; the New Patriotic Party (NPP) functional executives, and core members are all beneficiaries of the galamsey and, therefore, fighting it is like pouring water on a stone.

He said this has made all efforts to combat galamsey, or illegal mining, fruitless because the same people who say they will ban it are neck-deep in activities and reaping its benefits.

Novihoho Afaglo added that when President Akufo-Addo said he was putting his presidency on the line to ban small-scale mining in 2017, it ultimately led to his party losing four parliamentary seats in the 2020 elections.

The affected constituencies: Evalue Ajomoro Gwira, Upper West Denkyira, Amenfi Central, and Prestea Huni Valley, had previously been NPP strongholds.

He also argued that the ban had severe economic consequences for communities reliant on small-scale mining, leading to widespread criticisms.

The government's Operation Vanguard, a military-police taskforce established to combat galamsey, faced resistance in these communities, exacerbating resentment toward the NPP.

The CEO stated that critics, including lawyer Appiah Danquah, contend that President Akufo-Addo's administration has failed in its efforts to combat illegal mining

Challenges in combating galamsey

Afaglo indicated that the ban on small-scale mining now has led to economic hardships in mining communities, the community resistance because most of the communities believe that the party has benefited from galamsey and turning to ban them from engaging in it is hypocritical

“Because this year is an election year and the party learning from what happened in 2020 which led to the lost four parliamentary seats, NPP would like to desist from a repeat hence will not show any serious commitment in the fight against galamsey,” he stated.

Overall, the NPP government's struggles to effectively combat galamsey underscore the complexity of the issue and the need for a collaborative, nuanced approach.

“I have over the years written to the presidency advising them on how to educate small scale miners but no one has shown interest,” he stated.